Odds and Ends – Tuning Fork Auckland, 23 April 2022: Concert Review

Odds and Ends are a Power Pop four-piece Auckland band, and tonight is a launch for brand-new single Something Else. The Tuning Fork is hosting a predominantly young audience tonight, and they are genuinely keen and enthusiastic when the headliners hit the stage at close to 10pm.

Lead singer, guitarist and the band’s focal point is Koen Aldershof. Miro Gibson (also in Rvmes) lead guitar, Max Earnshaw drums and Jonathan Meyer bass.

Something Else is Power Pop laden with hooks and great melodic drive. On stage they rev it up a few gears on the chorus. And as can happen in popular Art there can be unintentional synchronicity.

War is what you’re after/ War is what you’re getting/ I wish for something else.

Opening track Sticks and Stones hits on the same themes and so we have a concept concert. Putting my war face on/ Showing no respect/ War is raging around us and we turn a blind eye. Fast and racy Pop. The title refers to the telling of lies, but in this context, they also stumble across Einstein’s quote inadvertently, World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones.

This is my first show after many months and false starts. There is a surreal air of things having been changed and not being able to pin-point where the uneasiness lies.

Coast Arcade

The youthful audience are having none of that and when opening act Coast Arcade kick the evening off, there is a release of exuberance and energy.

Bella is the blonde female singer and guitarist and leads the quartet. Chris on lead guitar, Tom on drums whose wearing dark shades which makes him resemble a Ramone, and Matt on bass who’s brand new.

They look like a High School band and they jump out with Kiss Like This. Punky and Pop and resembling an early Shonen Knife. Whatever angst some of us might be feeling is banished in an instant of sharp, attacking guitars.

Straight out attack with melody and they follow with the similar sounding Just Peachy. I like the brashness and unashamed Kiwi accent of Bella. This gives them a little of the Old School Punk of New Zealand which shone briefly. I wonder if they have parents (or grandparents?!) who had copies of AK79 laying around?

Salty Blonde starts as a ballad which they kick up a few levels as the drum and bass engine dominate.

Very good cover of the Backstreet Lover’s Kilby Girl. Crisp and sharp Power Pop. This is helped no end by the great sound desk tonight, for all the bands.

Finish their set with Tattoo which is a forthcoming single release. A startling lyric, back seat lovers wishing they were young.

Taking full opportunity to push themselves out in front.

Borderline

Borderline are a five-piece from Auckland who also look like a High School band.

They start with some whiney vocals on Welly, a fast Pop tune with a nice rhythm riff.

Add some jangle to following song Euphoria and then they start to look like they’re having fun.

Heavier chords and they stretch out with some Rock guitar on a song called She Loves U.

Power Pop to start but then on a couple of tunes they mesh the guitars and lay out Grunge rhythm riffs, resulting in a triumphant barrage on a song called Night Out With…

Their favourite is Jealous, where the singer who has been coming more to the fore, does some gritty shredding. The shuffling rhythm sounds a little like Led Zeppelin’s D’yer Mak’er.

Which they follow with Mixed Up and Confused. Starts out as a ballad and the guitars add some bright Pop licks. Then get heavier and rock out as the lead guitarist rolls out the pyrotechnic flash. They’re borrowing from Zep in attitude only.

Close with their debut single Spinning, which is similar and more concise. Power Pop which rocks out.

Flaxxies

Flaxxies are a five-piece Auckland Hard Pop band and also bunch of High School mates. I suspect they have been performing a bit longer and have honed their chops a bit.

Opening song King of the Reef suggests Surf but sounds like amped-up Pop. The singer is all kinetic energy showmanship and whips up the enthusiastic front-of-stage dancers.

Time To Go works off that energy with some quirky, angular Pop which sounds a little like XTC.

Karma Goblin and the singer adds an acoustic guitar. It has an off-beat accented Reggae rhythm with a loping bass. Drops to a heartbeat at the bridge.

A new song, Lot 61, works that Punk Reggae into a sound similar to the Clash and Working for the Clampdown.

Cyclone is full of Pop hooks and played fast, and we do get to hear a nice Surf lead guitar breaks.

Erica and That’s on Me are crowd favourites that keep the Hard Pop momentum going.

Odds and Ends

The band has a mix of styles but I would generally call them Power Pop. They keep it economical and generally upbeat. On stage they lift the inspiration level with brash showmanship.

Tasty. Drive me crazy. Bubblegum with a Reggae backbeat.

Stay for the Night plays it slower with guitars which get a little Blues-like. Then builds into a stadium size chorus.

They introduce a new song, London Morning, quite different from the rest of the set. A Folky high toned guitar intro, and a slider is used. This is Americana heading towards Tom Petty territory.

Have great fun with a nice cover of the Kook’s Naïve.

Of course, they come back for an encore after the rousing new single. Don’t Look Down lays on some heavy, and very welcome Funk bass to a great Power Pop song.

A triumphant end to the show. I suspect the best way forward is how Odds and Ends and the other young bands here tonight are laying it out. All revved up and ready to go!

Rev Orange Peel

Click any icon to view a gallery from each band. Leonie Moreland shot these amazing photos!

 Odds and Ends

 Coast Arcade

 Borderline

 Flaxxies